Seems that BP is really reaching here. Mr. Freeh's report is quite short and less than scandalous. He talks of an improper email and some questionable socializing, none of which inured to the benefit of any of the participants.

BP is on a witch hunt to demonize an otherwise well respected member of the corporate defense bar in Mr. Juneau. I find it shameful that the company stoops to this level of unsubstantiated, personal attack.

Mr Freeh has found a number of irregularities and weaknesses in the way this important fund has been organised and run. In addition, BP claims that very substantial sums of money have been handed out without appropriate checks and allege fraud has occurred. These are not minor things - and it is no surprise that tough questions should be asked of the person in charge. Mr Juneau must and presumably will be able to account for his stewardship - as expected of anyone running a billion $ enterprise where such questions arise.

12:35 pm January 27, 2014

Franklin E Leach CPA wrote:

I find it hard to understand why a response by "FriedEgg" would purport to further spread what appears to be a malicious attempt to demean Mr. Freeh. It is quite easy to hide in the shadows and cast personal opinions! I suggest that "FriedEgg" might consider stepping into the light of day and backing up his opinion with facts.

1:08 pm January 27, 2014

Rachael Cummings wrote:

BP 's conduct is nothing short of a disgrace. They know full well that they authored, agreed to and signed in the DWH Settlement, and did so with the knowledge that there would be claims that did not have to prove a connection to the spill, in order to be compensated. Simply put, " that is how they bought Global Peace".
BP had no basis or right to try and accurately forecast the cost of the settlement. How could they ? it was anyones guess how many eligible claims there would be.
As soon as they had things buttoned up, so the claimants could never sue for recovery, they started their campaign of attack against Judge Barbier and now Judge Juneau. Next in line the victims, many of whom lost everything due to their gross negligence in the Gulf.
Now, according to BP, they are the real victim, and we are the money grabbers, all filing artificial fake claims.
Full page articles in the Wall St Journal and NY Times, trying desperately to convince the American people how they have been taken advantage of.
Right now BP is running out of appeals. They have milked the system almost dry.
When true justice prevails and both of BP 's recent appeals are correctly, flat out denied, the Courts need to come down heavily on BP and force them to restart payments to the DWH Settlement and BP Claims program victims, none of which have been processed yet.
Both State and Government Claims must step aside and make sure all legitimate victim claims are compensated first. BP has been throwing their weight around for too long now. The EPA should absolutely hold all drilling licences until these obligations are met. Perhaps a finding of Gross Negligence coming up soon will get their attention ? Start paying of face the consequences.

1:21 pm January 27, 2014

Don Kelderman wrote:

The facts are; the Obama administration has been unduly punishing BP for way to long. This company has voluntarily spent more money on clean up, and claims (fraudulent claims), than any company in the history of this world. Still, this is not enough for these activist judges, lawyers and companies and people that have not had any loss due to this accident.
It is time for British Petroleum and their country to stand up to this corrupt administration so as to allow this company to continue operations. Hundreds of thousands of people/families depend on their living that are working for BP, and the thousands of retired people that depend on their retirement funds.
It is shameful that this administration has taken on this "distribution of wealth" agenda to destroy America. They have done everything they can to destroy profitable businesses, destroy our military, and infringe on every American's life. They are intent on burning our Constitution & Bill of Rights, as well.
Our congress has done absolutely nothing to stop this mass takeover, spending, and corruption by this Administration. Our elected representatives have brought nothing but Shame to America!

1:21 pm January 27, 2014

Alan wrote:

Louisiana is the most corrupt state in the union. It is no surprise that given a few billion to pass around, friends & family are sticking their hands in the till.

1:54 pm January 27, 2014

Moderate wrote:

BP has nobody to blame but themselves, it was their disaster. But on the good side, based on the JPMorganChase model, if BP pays the fines and puts this behind them, they'll all get mega raises like Jaime Dimond. They can't lose.

2:01 pm January 27, 2014

Rachael Cummings wrote:

Don, you need to stay focused on what this article is about and stop wailing about the constitution and bill of rights. Obviously you do not live in the Gulf Region and therefore are not qualified to comment on what people and business owners lost during this disaster.
BP admitted their guilt from the beginning and offered to fund the recovery up front. Obama accepted that decision, thereby avoiding another Federal Disaster and putting the tax payers on the hook for the cost. BP has a very checkered past and was already a convicted felon for previous acts of negligence
BP has done a good job on you with their wild media full page ads, labeling a huge number of perfectly legitimate victims as being thieves and vagabonds, out to steal a dollar form this innocent oil producer that had just burnt to death 17 men on their rig.
Despite what you may think,the economic fall out was massive, and hundreds of thousands of people and business owners were financially damaged.
Despite signing an agreement BP is now trying to get out of paying the victims. They are using every means possible to achieve this. Your venom should be directed at them not the victims still waiting for compensation for almost 4 years !.
For your own sake do not buy into their heavily funded media garbage...it simply is not true......

2:07 pm January 27, 2014

Ghost of Huey Long wrote:

BP has the right to request strong controls concerning payment processing and claims reviews, and it seems that there are things lacking. On the other hand, the effects of the spill continue, so BP should understand that the original estimates were too low and that the duration will be longer than expected. While BP has recorded about $40 billion in total charges, the reality is that this was a mega-disaster.

2:55 pm January 27, 2014

Ali Salman wrote:

Bring back Kenneth Feinberg he will have this thing wrapped up in a matter of months not years!!

3:22 pm January 27, 2014

Anonymous wrote:

After going over and above in trying to help anyone "hurt" by this accident, BP is finally digging in its heels. A large portion of these claims are fraudulent.

BP should fight each case in court going forward. These lawyers for the "victims" want the suits and recoveries as large and as long as possible to maximize their incomes. Escort service claiming lost revenue??? No SS #'s or valid addresses.

Fight them in court!

3:25 pm January 27, 2014

Jail the Lawyers wrote:

Rachel,

Forget all the stuff about they knew what they signed up for, and people lost money in LA due to BP.

The fact is BP had no choice but to agree to anything just to stop the demonization.

Now they have gathered their facts, does their investigations, and can now point out the thieves and dishonest lawyers and their clients. It does npt matter what BP did, how bad they were, what they cost the region. None of that excuses the theft and dishonesty that is now going on. And BP has a right, if not a duty, to expose it. After all, theft by anyone from the available funds just means someone rightly entitled to a payout may find no money left for them.

The fact is their are lways avaricious and dishonest people who smell an opportunity to jump on the bandwagon of panic and public disgrace.

The lawyers and their dishonest clients should go to jail and their enablers should join them. Period. There is never an excuse for dishonesty.

3:38 pm January 27, 2014

Fried Egg wrote:

Mr Leach - quit worrying about my name - I have no idea who you are but I'll happily listen to your points and check them out - so try read my post and get your own facts right before launching into sanctimonious nonsense. You seem to be confusing Mr Freeh and Mr Juneau and their respective roles which doesn't help much in your own demand for facts! This isn't an argument about BP not paying - they should and they are. This is about alleged criminal behavior in fraudulent claims and the involvement of some of the senior team at the Claims Fund. Special Master Freeh has now made those allegations in his court filings following the initial part of his investigation. He is not finished. It's not unreasonable to ask challenging questions of the most senior person who's looking after the shop while this has been going on and who presumably had some hand in appointing his senior team and ensuring the right checks and balances were in place.. These are questions of accountability (not criminality) faced by everyone in positions of responsibility. Mr Juneau is no different.

3:55 pm January 27, 2014

Joe wrote:

BP has more cash on hand than most Countries, including ours. They did not agree to the settlement to "stop the demonization." BP acted on their own to craft this settlement, guided by competent and intelligent counsel and then argued, repeatedly, for the enactment of this settlement through Federal Courts. Whatever Demons are haunting BP now of are there own design.

4:38 pm January 27, 2014

Jerry W Mill wrote:

I am SHOCKED, SHOCKED that anyone would observe that there are (MANY) corrupt lawyers out there and that they would chase ambulances or oil spills for their own good. Add to that, the corruption in this administration and its appointees, especially in this Justice Department, and you've got the sleeze that our system now constantly exhibits. Does anyone really think business, big or little, stands a chance in a court of law with lefties in control of everything???

5:19 pm January 27, 2014

Merica wrote:

LA is a very corrupt state, and the settlement funds are very large. But that being said, BP is making allegations without any proof!!!!! They are running this public campaign against the fund they set up, but why don't they give the public some proof. You can't just make allegations and expect us to rely on the poor reputation of attorneys at large to validate them. I am more inclined to take the work of ANYONE OTHER THAN BP, the company that has all these ludicrous advertisements about how green they are. I roll my eyes every time.

5:23 pm January 27, 2014

Mike wrote:

Joe & Leach and Rachel, There's nothing in this article that indicates that BP is trying to get out of paying legitimate claims. They are objecting to fraudulent payouts. I see nothing wrong with that nor do I question why they would cast blame on the man in charge.

5:35 pm January 27, 2014

Forthepeople wrote:

Jerry that's nonsense. The majority of the judges hearing the FACTS, not some bs media campaign, were appointed by Republican Presidents.
BP is trying to do anything but the right thing. I know a church, practically on the beach, that filed a claim for less than $50,000.00 for their loss of tithes from their members, because the members suffered losses and paid less tithes, and supported their losses with accurate documentation. BP has fought this claim every step of the way and still hasn't paid it. Get your facts straight.
Sure there are some bad lawyers filing claims just like there is in any other profession. Catch them, make them pay the money back and send them to prison where they should be but don't further harm the victims by withholding the compensation for their losses.
Some of you people are so gullible to believe BP's lies.

6:09 pm January 27, 2014

MS wrote:

Given a corporate claim and a government claim, I'd tend to go with the corporate claim these days. With a regime steeped in numerous shakedowns, abuse of power to silence opposition, lies, and payouts to supporters, its not hard to side with the party that needs to actually deliver a service or product on a routine basis to get paid.

6:12 pm January 27, 2014

edgar wrote:

Finally, BP is fighting back.

To Rachel Cummings: You just posted, "Obviously you do not live in the Gulf Region and therefore are not qualified to comment on what people and business owners lost during this disaster."

Well, I have a business about 250 miles from the coast and I was approached by a man from our area who was hired by an attorney trying to get all he could out of BP. Doesn't matter if you're not on the coast. Doesn't matter if there is no proof you were affected. All I had to do, I was told, was show financial losses during the period in question.

I am glad to see BP finally getting up off the map.

6:46 pm January 27, 2014

Forthepeople wrote:

Edgar, that's likely because under the terms of the settlement agreement, that BP helped draft and agreed to, a financial test determines whether a business is entitled to compensation. That's how you show a presumed link to the oil spill. In your area, 250 miles from the coast, assuming you are in the recovery zone, you would have to show a decline during certain months in 2010 compared to the same months in previous years and then a rebound in those months in 2011. Further you would have to provide tax returns, profit and loss statements and other documents as proof.

1:59 pm January 28, 2014

Robert Jones wrote:

How About A Strip Club Getting $575,000! A Strip Club That Two Of Patrick Juneau's Officers Frequented Weekly, Then Resigned When They got Caught!

2:06 pm January 28, 2014

Robert Cole wrote:

When Will The False Claims End??? $100 Billion? $500 Billion?

When The Greedy "Back Room Lawyers" From The Gulf All Billionaires! They Take 40%

4:59 pm January 28, 2014

Forthepeople wrote:

Robert, this is part of the problem. Far too much misinformation being spread and too many people are gullible enough to believe it. Don't be one of those--fact check first.
Here are the verifiable facts:
The contingency fees that go to the lawyers have been capped at 25% so at least 75% goes to the victim client.
There is nothing in the settlement agreement that excludes a strip club that can prove their losses, according to the methods identified in the settlement, from receiving compensation. While morally we may not like establishments such as this, that is no reason to exclude them.
If some of Mr Juneau's staff acted improperly (merely spending money at a claimant's business is not improper) then they should be held accountable--period. The legal profession is ust like any other profession (doctor, police, priest, etc) and has bad apples that embarrass those who genuinely are trying to do the right thing. If anything, like the examples previously mentioned, I personally think they should receive harsher punishment because they are in positions of trust. I'd love nothing more than to have all the bad apples removed from society.

6:47 pm January 31, 2014

Joe wrote:

The comments posted to date, especially the ones in favor of BP, appear to be written by idiot drones paid to post.

Their level of knowledge on this subject is curiously shallow, while the level of hyperbole is amazingly caustic.

As a businessman I can only wonder why someone, anyone, would pay people of such a shallow and incompetent background in an attempt to sway opinion!

3:00 am October 16, 2014

Soph Katt wrote:

Few of the oil spills are closely monitored through EMSA's CleanSeaNet equipment.

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